Temporary safety rail supports

ABSTRACT

A temporary safety rail support. The support includes an elongate support member having a shoe plate welded to its lower end. A pair of open-ended boxes is mounted on the support member. The boxes are adapted to receive the ends of temporary guard-rails. Embodiments of the invention permit the boxes to be pivoted relative to the vertical axis or angularly positioned relative to the horizontal axis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to safety devices. Morespecifically, the present invention is drawn to a temporary guardrailsafety support adapted for use during periods of construction.

2. Description of the Related Art

During the construction of commercial and/or residential buildings, itis common practice to install temporary safety railing until permanentrailing is constructed. The temporary railing is installed on stairways,elevated floors, decks, etc. to protect the workers from accidentalfalls. In the past, 2×4 lumber has been nailed to vertical woodenstandards (also 2×4) to create a safety railing system. This system didnot provide the necessary strength and often became dislodged when aworker fell against it. The related art, samples of which are identifiedand cited in the accompanying IDS, disclose devices employed toalleviate the shortcomings of the aforementioned system. However, noneof the identified and cited inventions and patents, taken either singlyor in combination, is seen to describe a safety rail support as willsubsequently be described and claimed in the instant application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is drawn to a temporary safety rail support. Thesupport includes an elongate support member having a shoe plate weldedto its lower end. A pair of open-ended boxes is mounted on the supportmember. The boxes are adapted to receive the ends of temporaryguard-rails. Embodiments of the invention permit the boxes to be pivotedrelative to the vertical axis or angularly positioned relative to thehorizontal axis. As presently contemplated, all parts will be fabricatedfrom rugged steel stock.

Accordingly, the invention presents a temporary rail support assemblythat is rugged, efficiently designed and easy to use. The inventionprovides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for thepurposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effectivein accomplishing their intended purposes.

A clear understanding of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a first embodiment of atemporary safety rail support according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of a temporary safety railsupport according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an environmental, perspective view of a second embodiment of atemporary safety rail support according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of a temporary safety railsupport according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an environmental, perspective, exploded view of a thirdembodiment of a temporary safety support according to the presentinvention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Attention is first directed to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein a first embodimentof a safety rail support is illustrated. The embodiment includes avertical tube 12 having an upper end 12 a and a lower end 12 b. Tube 12has a length of approximately forty-two inches. A shoe plate 14 iswelded to the lower end 12 b of tube 12. A support member 16 is weldedat a distal end 16 a to shoe plate 14. The proximate end 16 b is weldedto tube 12. Support member 16 is oriented at an angle of approximatelyforty-five degrees to the vertical tube and shoe plate. Shoe plate 14 isprovided with openings 14 a therein so that the plate may be securedwith nails, or the like, to a substrate. A pair of identicallyconfigured, open-ended, tubular boxes 18 is attached to each tube 12.The rear face of each box is solidly welded to the tube. Each box isapproximately two inches wide, four inches high and five inches long.The boxes are adapted to receive and support therein the ends oftwo-by-four rails R. Boxes 18 are oriented so that their open endsextend horizontally. The lower box is positioned approximatelytwenty-four inches above shoe plate 14. The upper box is approximatelyforty-two inches above the shoe plate. Openings 18 a are disposed in theboxes for securing rails R with screws or nails.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of a safety rail support.The rail support of the second embodiment is identical to that of thefirst embodiment except that the boxes 18 are pivotally attached to tube12. Pins 20 are mounted in tube 12 for rotational movement therein. Arespective box 18 is attached to one end of a respective pin 20. Thepivoting movement of boxes 18 allows the safety rail supports to be usedon an incline as in a staircase.

A third embodiment of the invention incorporates hinges 30 fixed to theends of mating boxes 18. Hinges 30 are fixed on the front face and rearface of each box 18. This arrangement permits the safety railings toextend angularly. Note that selected placement of pivot pin 32 willallow angular movement in either the forward direction or the rearwarddirection.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A temporary safety rail support, comprising: an elongate tubularmember, said elongate tubular member having an upper end and a lowerend; a shoe plate, said shoe plate secured to said lower end of saidelongate tubular member; a support member, said support member having aproximate end and a distal end, wherein said proximate end is attachedto said elongate tubular member and said distal end is attached to saidshoe plate; and a first and a second rail support box attached to saidelongate tubular member.
 2. The temporary safety rail support accordingto claim 1, wherein each rail support box has a rear face and a frontface and wherein said rear face is welded to said elongate tubularmember.
 3. The temporary safety rail support according to claim 1,including plural openings disposed through said shoe plate.
 4. Thetemporary safety rail support according to claim 1, wherein said supportmember is oriented at an angle of forty-five degrees with said elongatetubular member and said shoe plate.
 5. The temporary safety rail supportaccording to claim 1, wherein each rail support box is pivotallyattached to said elongate tubular member.
 6. A temporary safety railsupport, comprising: an elongate tubular member, said elongate tubularmember having an upper end and a lower end; a shoe plate, said shoeplate secured to said lower end of said elongate tubular member; aplurality of openings disposed through said shoe plate; a supportmember, said support member having a proximate end and a distal end,wherein said proximate end is attached to said elongate tubular memberand said distal end is attached to said shoe plate, said support memberbeing oriented at an angle of forty-five degrees with said elongatetubular member and said shoe plate; and a first and a second railsupport box attached to said elongate tubular member.
 7. The temporarysafety rail support according to claim 6, wherein each rail support boxhas a rear face and a front face and wherein said rear face is welded tosaid elongate tubular member.
 8. The temporary safety rail supportaccording to claim 6, wherein each rail support box has a rear face anda front face, wherein said rear face is pivotally attached to saidelongate tubular member.
 9. The temporary safety rail support accordingto claim 6, wherein each rail support box has a rear face and a frontface and wherein said rear face is welded to said elongate tubularmember and including plural openings in each front face.
 10. Thetemporary safety rail support according to claim 6, wherein each railsupport box has a rear face and a front face and wherein said rear faceis pivotally attached to said elongate tubular member and includingplural openings in each front face.
 11. A temporary safety rail support,comprising: an elongate tubular member, said elongate tubular memberhaving an upper end and a lower end; a shoe plate, said shoe platesecured to said lower end of said elongate tubular member; a pluralityof openings disposed through said shoe plate; a support member, saidsupport member having a proximate end and a distal end, wherein saidproximate end is attached to said elongate tubular member and saiddistal end is attached to said shoe plate, said support member beingoriented at an angle of forty-five degrees with said elongate tubularmember and said shoe plate; a first and a second rail support box eachrail support box having a front face and a rear face, wherein said rearface is attached to said elongate tubular member; and hinge membersdisposed on said front face and rear face of each rail support box. 12.The temporary rail support according to claim 11, including pluralopenings disposed in each front face of each rail support box.